OTTAWA – Canada’s official opposition announced today it has forced an emergency meeting of the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology, to talk wireless.
Official Opposition Industry critic Chris Charlton (Hamilton Mountain) said in the New Democratic Party press release the meeting is needed to discuss challenges facing the wireless telecom industry ahead of the Conservatives proroguing the House – not to mention ahead of the September 17th start of the 700 MHz wireless auction.
Late Friday afternoon, a date for a committee meeting was posted to the Industry Committee's web page of Tuesday, August 27 from 4-6 p.m. Neither an agenda nor a roster of people who could be called to appear have yet been added. However, the meeting is currently labelled on the site as In Camera, as in, not open to the public.
Prime Minister Stephen Harper has told the media he intends to prorogue the current session Parliament (currently on summer break) and re-start in the fall with a new throne speech. Once prorogued, however, all Parliament business comes to an end, including committee work.
“Conservatives snubbed our request to call an emergency committee meeting, so we were had no choice but to force this meeting. Canadians want to understand how the government’s policies affect them,” said Charlton in the release. “A proper study of these issues is crucial to ensuring long-term competitiveness and providing Canadians with reliable, affordable high-speed networks.”
The NDP also tabled a motion outlining the importance of robust market competition and affordable wireless access for all Canadians.
Ms. Charlton’s motion reads.
“That the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology immediately commence a study on Industry Canada’s upcoming auction of the 700 MHz aspect of the radio spectrum, specifically examining the policy and licensing framework being used by the government, its impact on access to wireless services for all Canadians, the prices Canadians will pay for those services, Canadian jobs, and the privacy of Canadians; and that for this study the Minister, officials as well as industry, labour and consumer stakeholders be called as witnesses, and that the study be completed for September 13th, 2013.”
Any report compiled by the committee would (one hopes) be filed before September 17th.
